Player Profile: Katlyn HJanuary 25th, 2018, 9:35 am

How long have you been playing?: Less than a year. I started playing March 2017.

Describe your character: Joy Strifeborn is an eternal optimist and vocal worshipper of the dragon/moon god Draconus. She approaches every situation with a smile and an accompanying jingle from her coin headpiece. Joy is a fortune teller known for her eerily accurate predictions and has on more than one occasion scared other characters. She’s free spirited and prone to walking alone at night much to the dismay of her husband and friends. She travels with her group, the Guardians of the Sacred Truth or GoST, when she’s not carelessly wandering off. Joy loves mysteries and views solving them as a form of worship for her deity.

What was your favorite in game moment?: My second night of playing Joy I was told that someone’s master wished to meet her for a reading… outside the “safer” area. Joy being Joy happily accepted with no hesitation. It wasn’t until another PC, a merchant named Oz, overheard who she was visiting that Joy was able to have a much needed heads up. Without that her meeting with Reginald the Nosferatu vampire would have been an entirely different experience. It was a great roleplaying experience and exercise to show Joy’s commitment to helping others… even if she’s suitably frightened. Just keep smiling!

Why do you love Kingdoms of Novitas?: This was my first ever LARP and I love how supportive the community is to new players. I’ve probably asked a couple hundred questions so far from rules to world clarification and everyone has been very helpful. The people that make up Kingdoms of Novitas, staff and players, are phenomenal and I’m happy to call them friends.

Who is your favorite PC?: My favorite PC earned that title even before I started formally playing! Months before I was able to come to KoN in person I spent my time reading Ellenor’s hundred plus blog entries. Not only did the blog give me a firsthand look into the world and character but it endeared me toward the ever dramatic Ellenor. I love how far the character has fallen and changed over time! I’d recommend reading Ellenor’s Letters to find out for yourself about her and her various mistakes in pursuit of power.

What did you think your character concept was? What is it now?: Originally Joy was going to have a lot more to do with spirits and helping the dead. That’s why when I first made her I took Medium (the ability to see ghosts) at level 1. Other than that I wanted her to be optimistic and a fortune teller but didn’t have much direction. Of course I had the stereotypical “tragic backstory” and threw in a curse for good measure but it wasn’t something I immediately focused on.

Joy ended up being far more religious than I intended and views herself as an intercessor to help guide others. Having no experience in fortune telling I was surprised at how many coincidences have happened, but that’s only solidified her otherworldly gifts. Joy has become a catalyst character and I love helping other people progress their stories. By far the funniest surprise about the character has been the number of people frightened by her. Then again I’d probably be afraid of a lady that sometimes deals cards with people’s faces on them 😉

How many PCs have you had? What happened to them?: Joy is my first and only PC. A lot has happened to her, most recently her curse nearing fruition, but I’d say she’s had mostly positive experiences. But that could be entirely due to Joy’s outlook on life… In any situation you can choose whether to smile or frown.